In the Roman Catholic tradition of assigning saints to days of the year, March 19th is the date assigned to Saint Joseph (or San Jose in Spanish). It is also the date that Father’s Day is celebrated in Spain. I think it’s because Joseph was such a good dad that he stuck with his sexless marriage and raised a son that he knew wasn’t even his, just like his father-in-law did.
My initial reaction to the fact that I just missed becoming a father for Father’s Day this year was disappointment. But then I realized that there could be great benefit of having my daughter’s birthday, a day when she will be expecting gifts, a couple weeks after Father’s Day, a day when she should be sucking up to me to ensure those gifts. Having a child with a birthday just before Father’s Day would be much worse. There’s no question about whether gratefulness or greed is a stronger human motivator.

Thus I have rationalized events that I cannot control into a positive light. Not unlike Saint Joseph, I suppose.

Aw man, now I’m hungry for a sloppy joe! I haven’t had one of those in years!

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